Chris Smith qualified for regional competition with a 17' 6-1/2" pole vault at the Miami Invitational

IRVING, Texas -- University of Cincinnati senior track and field student-athlete Chris Smith(Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) was named the Conference USA Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Week for the week ending on April 10, announced by the league office. He joins Jo Young(London, Ohio/London) (Mar. 20) as UC honorees this season.

Smith won the pole vault at the Miami Invitational on April 9, vaulting 17' 6-1/2". The mark puts Smith at the top of the C-USA performance list this season and qualified him for the NCAA Mid-East Regional competition on May 27-28 in Bloomington, Ind.

Smith also qualified in the pole vault last season and captured the C-USA pole vault title in 2002. He also tied for fifth in the event at the 2005 USATF Indoor Nationals on Feb. 25-27 in Boston, Mass.

Smith and the Bearcats travel to Columbus, Ohio on April 15-16 to compete in the prestigious All-Ohio Championships, hosted by Ohio State. Smith won last year's All-Ohio pole vault championship, leading the Bearcats to the team title.